No change at Plug Power

The Russian industrialist who essentially owns a significant chunk of Plug Power Inc. stock is wheeling and dealing again.

Vladimir Potanin, who heads the Russian conglomerate Interros, is partnering with another company called Gallagher to create the world’s largest mining company.

Interros owns Norilsk Nickel, a mining company which is also a part-owner in Smart Hydrogen, the investment vehicle that invested in Plug Power. As part of the deal Gallagher
will take a 10 percent stake in Norilsk Nickel.

If you still understand what’s going on, all you really have to know is that it won’t have any real impact on Plug Power, according to company officials.

“This doesn’t have anything to do with us,” Plug Power spokesman Ben Greenberg said. “Smart Hydrogen — I don’t think it is changing because of this.”